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A Qualitative Examination of Culture Shock and The A QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF CULTURE SHOCK AND THE INFLUENTIAL FACTORS AFFECTING NEWLY-ARRIVED KOREAN STUDENTS AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY A Dissertation by KENT DOEHR MCLEOD Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May 2008 Major Subject: Curriculum and Instruction A QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF CULTURE SHOCK AND THE INFLUENTIAL FACTORS AFFECTING NEWLY-ARRIVED KOREAN STUDENTS AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY A Dissertation by KENT DOEHR MCLEOD Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Zohreh R. Eslami Committee Members, Lynn M. Burlbaw Toby Egan Dennie Smith Head of Department, Dennie Smith May 2008 Major Subject: Curriculum and Instruction iii ABSTRACT A Qualitative Examination of Culture Shock and the Influential Factors Affecting Newly- Arrived Korean Students at Texas A&M University. (May 2008) Kent Doehr McLeod, B.A., Rice University; M.A., Rice University; M.A., Teachers College, Columbia University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Zohreh R. Eslami The primary purpose of the study was to reveal the perceptions of three newly- arrived male Korean students enrolled in Texas A&M University during the 2007 fall semester regarding their experiences with culture shock and the reasons they ascribed for this phenomenon through three in-depth, individualized interviews and weekly L1 journals. The manner in which they responded to the culture shock as well as the influential factors that assisted them in coping was also explored. By using a constant comparative method of analysis, the collected data was scrutinized and analyzed for emerging patterns. To assist in this process, the data was input into computer files and analyzed using the software program NVivo 7. The findings uncovered the existence of some degree of culture shock for each of the three participants at different times throughout the semester. In particular, a comparatively much higher incidence of interpersonal and psychological symptoms of culture shock than of physiological ones was displayed. Strong support for the individual iv nature of culture shock was also exhibited. In addition, the participants’ perceptions of the experiences as well as their ability to cope or not cope with culture shock revealed a capacity to overcome obstacles and reflect upon differences. Support for the majority of the factors hypothesized to be influential in helping or hindering the participants’ ability to cope with culture shock was exhibited. The noteworthy impact of the participants’ personal outlook, marital status, length of stay in the U.S., religiosity, and previous international experience on lessening the effects of culture shock was found. The influence of English, the university, and social connectedness, however, was important in increasing their adjustment stress. The cultural and ethnic differences between Korea and the U.S. were found to be the source of highly individual challenges faced by the participants during the study. As all the participants were males and their ages were within five years of each other, it was not possible to compare the influence of these variables among them. The only factor expected to have been influential in the participants’ adjustments to culture shock that was not evident was counseling. v DEDICATION To the people of Korea, who changed the course of my life vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Eslami, and my committee members, Dr. Burlbaw, Dr. Egan, and Dr. Smith, for their guidance and support throughout the course of this research. I would also like to give special thanks to the three participants, Sang, Kwang, and Hong, for their eager and active participation in this study. Additionally, I am grateful for the invaluable assistance of the transcriptionist / translator, Sung. Thanks also to my friends and colleagues who have always been a source of constant encouragement. I would have been hard pressed to have kept going without your belief in me. Finally, my deepest sense of gratitude is for my family for their unconditional love and support throughout my life. Words cannot fully express how humbled I am by all that you have provided me. In particular, I want to thank my brother and his wife for having always offered me a safe haven from the outside world and for having helped me keep life in perspective. To my parents, Charles and Donna, thank you for instilling in me a love of learning and inspiring me to explore the world. None of this would have been possible without you. vii NOMENCLATURE L1 First (Native) Language viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………………………. iii DEDICATION ……………………………………………………………………. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ………………………………………………………… vi NOMENCLATURE ………………………………………………………………. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………………. viii LIST OF FIGURES ……………………………………………………………….. xii LIST OF TABLES ………………………………………………………………… xiii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………... 1 Statement of the Problem ……………………………………. 5 Purpose of the Study ………………………………………… 12 Research Questions ………………………………………….. 13 Hypotheses …………………………………………………... 14 Definition of Terms ………………………………………….. 15 II LITERATURE REVIEW ……………………………………………. 18 Search and Selection Procedures …………………………….. 19 Theoretical Conceptualization ……………………………….. 19 Definition …………………………………………….. 19 Models ……………………………………………….. 25 Recuperation Model …………………………. 25 Learning Model ……………………………… 29 Journey Model ……………………………….. 31 Equilibrium Model …………………………... 32 Research Review …………………………………………….. 34 English Skills ………………………………………… 34 Communication Skills ……………………………….. 36 Social Connectedness ………………………………… 37 ix CHAPTER Page Attitude ………………………………………………. 40 Personality Type ……………………………………… 42 Marital Status ………………………………………… 43 Length of Stay in the Host Country ………………….. 44 Religiosity ……………………………………………. 45 Previous International Experience …………………… 46 Gender ………………………………………………... 47 Age …………………………………………………… 47 Cultural Distance and Differences …………………… 48 Country of Origin ……………………………………. 50 Counseling …………………………………………… 50 Significance of the Study ……………………………………. 53 III METHODOLOGY …………………………………………………... 56 Selection of Qualitative Research Paradigm and Rationale …. 56 Participants …………………………………………………... 58 Korean Students …………………………………….... 58 Transcriptionist / Translator …………………………. 62 Researcher ………………………………………….... 62 Data Collection ………………………………………………. 64 Interviews ……………………………………………. 64 L1 Journals …………………………………………… 65 Data Analysis ……………………………………………….... 66 Constant Comparative Method ………………………. 66 Transcription / Translation …………………………... 67 Trustworthiness ………………………………….…… 70 IV RESULTS ……………………………………………………………. 72 Overall Research Findings …………………………………………... 72 Interviews and Journals ………………................................................ 81 Interviews ……………………………………………………. 83 Journals ………………………………………………………. 85 Culture Shock: Symptoms, Perceptions, and Ability to Cope . 86 Interpersonal …………………………………………. 87 Psychological ………………………………………… 99 Physiological …………………………………………. 108 Influential Factors ……………………………………………. 112 English Skills ………………………………………… 113 x CHAPTER Page University ……………………………………………. 127 Academic Differences and Demands ………… 129 Social Connectedness ………………………………... 141 Personal Outlook …………………………………….. 158 Attitude / Personality ……………………….... 160 Demographic and other Background Factors ………... 172 Marital Status (including Family) ……………. 173 Length of Stay ……………………………….. 182 Religiosity ……………………………………. 184 Previous International Experience …………… 191 Gender ……………………………………….. 194 Age ………………………………………….... 199 Cultural Factors ……………………………………… 201 Cross-Cultural Differences …………………... 201 Economic …………………………….. 202 Individualism / Group ………………... 215 Environmental ……………………….. 221 Transportation ………………………... 225 Dietary ……………………………….. 230 Safety / Security ……………………... 234 Country of Origin ……………………………. 236 V SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ………………………………... 241 Findings …………………………………………………………….... 241 Culture Shock Symptoms ……………………………………. 242 Perceptions and Coping …………………………………….... 245 Influential Factors ……………………………………………. 246 English Skills ……………………………………….... 247 University ……………………………………………. 248 Social Connectedness ………………………………... 249 Personal Outlook …………………………………….. 250 Demographic and other Background Factors ………... 251 Cultural Factors …………………………………….... 255 Counseling ………………………………………….... 258 Implications ………………………………………………………….. 259 Literature …………………………………………………….. 259 Practice ………………………………………………………. 263 Future Research ……………………………………………… 266 Summary ……………………………………………………………... 268 xi Page REFERENCES …………………………………………………………………….. 271 APPENDIX A SELECTED SUMMARY OF CITED RESEARCH ON CULTURE SHOCK …………………………………....... 287 APPENDIX B RECRUITMENT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR STUDY …….... 301 APPENDIX C CONSENT FORM FOR PARTICIPANTS ………………...... 302 APPENDIX D CONSENT FORM FOR TRANSCRIPTIONIST / TRANSLATOR …………………………………………….... 304 APPENDIX E INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION …………………………………………...... 306 APPENDIX F FIRST INTERVIEW…………………………………………. 307 APPENDIX G MIDTERM INTERVIEW……………………………………. 311 APPENDIX H FINAL INTERVIEW………………………………………… 315 APPENDIX I JOURNAL PROMPTS AND INSTRUCTIONS ……………. 317 VITA ……………………………………………………………………………….. 318 xii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Page 1 Influential Factors Affecting the Impact of Culture Shock in the Pilot Case Study ……………………………………………...….. 16
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